Controlling mechanism for internal-combustion engines



C. A. MULLER.

CONTROLUNG MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 191]. RENEWED OCT. 31, 1919.

1,343,980. Patented June 22, 1920.

V 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR CHARLES A. 471/LL/? ATTORNEYS WITNESSES.

C. A. MULLER.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 3. 1917. RENEWED OCT. 3|, 1919.

1 ,3 43, 980. Patented June 22, 1920.

W/TNESSES. INVENTOR.

C. A. MULLER.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1911. RENEWED OCT. 31. 1919.

1,343,980. Patented June 22, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

. CHARLES A. MULLER; OF 'ISLIP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ATJ'GI TSTMIETZCORPORA TION, OF..NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

(CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR INTEENaL-ooMBUsTioN ENGINES.

' Application filed March a, 1917, Serial No. 152,296. Renewed October31, 1919. Seriallio. $534,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. MULLER, a citizen of Switzerland, andresident of Islip, county of Suffolk, city and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanismsfor Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

My; inventiongrelates to controlling mechanism for internal combustionengines and more particularly to that type thereof commonly known as oilengines in which the initial motive power at the starting of the enginein many forms'of this engine is compressed air. In such engines after asuflicient momentum has been obtained under the in-- fluence of saidcompressed airthe supply of the latter to the combustion chamber of theengine is cut oil and the usual explosive mixture consisting of oil andair is substituted as a motive force, it being understood that in somecases the introduction of the oil may commence before the compressed airhas been finally cut oil". My improvement has for its object theprovision of a simple mechanism whereby such engines may at all times beefliciently controlled and more particularly contemplates an improvedand simplified arra gement whereby said engines may be quic andpositively reversed when necessary or esired. Other objects of myinvention will appear from the description .hereinafter and the featuresof novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims- Intheaccompanying drawings I have diagrammatically shown an example of myinvention for the purpose of illustration and description. 'In saiddrawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an engine cylinder and,its cooperating parts in operative combination with my improvement; Fig.2 is a view of the operating dial with reference to which my controlleris operated; Fig. 3 is a view, part section and part elevation, on anenlarged scale showing the details of construction of my improvedcontrol valve and gine.

of the mechanism y which it operated; Fig. 4 is a section along the line4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an elevation, of diagrammatic character,showing the applica tion of my invention to a three cylinder en- Asshown in'the drawings 5 represents the cylinder of an engine in whichthe custom- Specification oi Letters Patent. Patented June 22 1920.

ary piston 6 reciprocates, the latter being for instance an igniter tube11.is located in the combustion chamber in the well known manner. Theengine may in addition comprise any suitable construction, while theshaft 9 may be operatively connectedwith any desired or known mechanismto impart motion thereto as will be readily understood.

As shown diagrammatically the combus-' tion chamber 5 of the cylinder 5is connected by means of a pipe 12 with an annular chamber 13 formingpart of a valve cylinder 14 and communicating with the interior thereofthrough an annular slot 15, the cylinder 14 in turn being connected bymeans of a pipe 16 with a sourceof compressed air.

Thecommunication between the interior of the valve, cylinder 14 and theannular chamber 13 and-consequently the communication between the pipes12 and 16 is controllecl' by means ofv a suitable valve 17 slidablymounted in said cylinder 14.

As shown in the illustrated examplethe valve 17 is provided with annularflanges 18 forming an intermediate annular space 19 and is furtherconstructed with one or more channels 20 extending through said valve inan axial direction. establish communication between those parts of thecylinder 14 located upon opposite sides of said valve wherebyequalization of pressure and perfect balance is secured. The valve 17 inthe illustration is carried by a hollow stem or sleeve 21 slidablymounted upon a tubular rod 22 depending from the.upper portion of thevalve cylin- The said channels 20 der 14 and communicating with theatmosphere through the outlets 23 formed in said valve cylinder. Thetubular rod 22 is provided. with a plurality .of slots 24 so located asto be intersected by the plane of the annular slot 15 of the cylinder14, the hol1ow10'5 provided with a plurality of radially extendingpassages 26 corresponding in number to the slots 25 and establishingcommunication between said slots and the annular space 19 for thepurpose to be more fully de scribed hereinafter. The valve stem 21 extends 'exteriorly beyond the oneend of the cylinder 14 through asuitable "stufling box or thelike 27, it being understood that in somecases, the stem 21 or its equivalent may also extend through theopposite end of said cylinder for guiding purposes instead ofbecross-head 28, the latter being pivotally connected at 29 with one endof a link 30, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 31 with asecond link 32. The latter in turn is pivotally connected at 33 with anarm 34 rigidly secured either directly to a toothed segment 35 or to ashaft 36 upon which said segment 35 in such case is also rigidlymounted, it being understood that in either case the point 36 representsa pivot journaled in suitable stationary bearings. The segment 35 is inmesh with a pinion 37 carried by a rod 38 rotatably mounted in suitablestationary bearings and provided at one end with an actuating meanswhich as shown may consist of a crank 39 provided with a pointer 40 atits free end. The said actuating means of whatever nature it may be ispreferably located in close proximity to the one face. of a stationaryindicating plate 41 suitably sup ported and provided'upon said face withsuitable designations 42, 42, 42 42 and 42 located in coiiperativerelation to said pointer 40, a stop 43 being provided upon said plate 41to arrest the movement of the crank 39 as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

In addition to the above, a third link 44 has, its one end pivotallyconnected at 31 with the links 30 and 32 and its other end operativelysecured for instance to a crank 45 forming part of or secured upon acounter shaft 46 journaled in suitable stationary bearings. The countershaft 46 is operatively connected with the main shaft9 in any suitablemanner so as to operate in harmony therewith or at the same speed and asshown carries a bevel pinion 47 in mesh with a bevel pinion 48 mountedupon an auxiliary shaft 49. The latter is journaled in suitablestationary bearings and in the diagrammatic illustration is providedwith a gear 50 which meshes with a gear 51 secured upon the main shaft 9to rotate therewith. The connection between the combustion chamber 5 ofthe cylinder 5 and the pipe 10 is controlled by means of a valve 52which ispositively operated in a direction to open it in any suitablemanner and as shown is carried by a stem 53 which is sli'dably mountedin suitable stationary bearings and is controlled and operated forinstance by means of a cam 54 rigidly mounted upon the rod 38; a spring52 or any other the pipe 55 is atomized or scattered throughout saidcombustion chamber to form an explosive mixture. The injection of thefuel into the combustion chamber 5 may for instance be accomplished bymeans of a fuel pump 56 located at a convenient point in e the pipe 55and controlled and operated in any suitable manner as by beingoperatively connected with an eccentric 57 located upon the main shaft9. In addition to this the arrangement includes aby-pass 58 connected atits opposite ends with the pipe 55 and forming therewith a by-passcircuit at some point between the source of fuel supply and the cylinder5. The by-pass 58 may be controlled in any suitable manner as by meansdetails may be such as to meet any desired 8 requirements and furtherthat the specifically indicated parts may be replaced by equivalentelements without in any way affecting the operation and efliciency of myimprovement. By way of example it may be mentioned that the cranksspecifically shown and described may be replaced by eccentrics, cams orother equivalent devices whereby the intended operation of the parts issecured.

In practice the links 30 and 32 must be of substantially the samelength, while the parts of my improved construction are so arranged withrespect to each other that the pivotal point 33 may be adjusted withrespect to the axial center line of the valve 17 and cylinder 14.

The operation of my invention, referring especially to Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, is as follows:

Assuming the engine to be at rest with the pointer 40 at stop (42) andit is de: l

sired to start the engine in a direction which for convenience I w1lldesignate as ahead the crank 39 in the illustrated example is 42 on theplate 41. As the crank 39 is thus operated the rod 38 will be rocked initswill actuate the segment 35 upon the pivot 36 andthus swing thearm 34to the right in Figs.'1 and 2. In this manner the pivot 33 is moved outof registry with the axial center line of the valve 17 and its cylinderand also to the right and the valve 17'is actuated to open communicationbetween the pipes 12 and 16 through the cylinder 14 and its annularchamber 13 whereby compressed air is admitted to the combustion chamber5 and thus drives the piston 6 downwardly. This brings about anactuation of the crank 8 and main shaft 9 and also, through the mediumof the gears 51 and 50, the auxiliary shaft 49' and the bevel gears 48and 47, causes the counter shaft 46 to be rotated. Through the medium ofthe crank 45 and link 44 this actuation of the counter shaft 46 causesthe link 32 to oscillate on the pivot 33 and thus by means of the link30 and stem 28 operates the valve 17 in such .amanner that thecompressed air is cut off from the combustion chamber 5 at the properinstant so as not to interfere with the upward movement of the piston 6under momentum. As the counter shaft 46 continues to operate in themanner described the link 32 will continue to be oscillated on the pivot33 whereby the valve 17 will be reciprocated in the cylinder 13 toperiodically admit compressed air to the combustion chamber '5 and tocut it off therefrom at the proper instant to cause the engine tocontinue to. operate in the direction it started or in other wordsahead. As the rod 38 is rocked through the actuation of the crank 39 asdescribed the cam 54 will also be'actuated an will exert a pressure uponthe stem 53 toward the left whereby the valve 52 will be opened againstthe tension of the spring 52 and will thus open the communicationbetween the combustion chamber 5 and the pipe 12. The cam 54 whichpositively controls said valve 52 is thus coincidentally operated withthe other parts of the controlling mechanism so that said valve 52 doesnot interfere with the communication between the combustion chamber andthe source of compressed air when such communication is required in theoperation of the engine. During theoperation of the engine on air aheadthe roller 61 of the valve stem will be located in the notch 63 of thedisk 62 which is actuated coincidentally with the rod 38 so the engineis in motion will simply pump the oil through the by-pass circuit andback 65 to the pipe 55. In consequence of this operation no oil or otherfuel is delivered to the combustion chamber 5 as long as the parts arein the positions described.

As soon as the engine 1s running smoothly or has reached a predeterminedmomentum the crank 39 is moved back from the position in which itspointer 40 registers with the designation 42 until said pointerregisters with the designation 42 on the plate 41. This will rotate therod 38, pinion 37 and segment 35 in the reverse direction and will swingthe arm 34 toward the left and so as to bring the pivot 33 intosubstantial registry with the axial center line of the valve 17 andcylinder 14. Withthe parts in this position the links 30 and 32 aresimply oscillated or swung back and forth on the pivots 29 and 33 as thecrank 45 and counter shaft 46 are actuated, without having anappreciable effect upon the valve 17. The operation of the parts is dueto the fact that the pivots 29 and 33 are in approximate registry witheach other. At the same time the described reverse rotation of the rod38 has moved the cam 54-to a position in which it releases the valve '52which accordingly closes under the action of the spring 52 and under theforce exerted by the air which is compressed in the c linder 5 by thepiston 6. The force exerted by the explosions of the fuel in thecombustion chamber 5 also tend to force the valve 52 into firmengagement with its seat as will be readily appar- I ent. In this mannercommunication between the pipe 12 and the cylinder 14is cut offregardless of whether or not the pipes 12 and 14 are in communicationwith each other. The operation of the rod 38 will also bring aboutarotation'of the disk 62 and will cause the roller 61 to pass out of thenotch 63 whereby a downward pressure will be exerted uponthe'stem 60 andthe valve 59 will be closed. As the oil or other. fuel can now no longerpass through the by-pass58 it will be injected into the combustionchamber 5 by the pump56 and there converted into an explosive mixtureand ignited in the usual manner. The engine at this stage is thereforebeing operated on oil, the direction of operation being ahead or in thesamedirection as when started; in other words the engine may be said tobe in ordinary operation. I

If; whilethe engine is running ahead occasion should arise making itnecessary or desirable to reverse the engine, the crank 39 is moved fromthe designation 42 to the left in the arc of a circleuntil it againengages the stop 43 and its pointer 40 registers with the designation 42on the plate 41. This operatlon again rotates the rod 38 and with -itthe disk 62, the movement being almost opened. The oil or other fuelwill thus again be pumped through the by-pass 58. by the pump 56 andwill no longer be injected into the combustion chamber 5 0f the cylinder5. At the same time through the medium of the rod 38, pinion 37 andsegment 35 the arm 34 will be swung downwardly from its previousposition whereby the pivot 33 and links 32 and 30 aresimilarly moved andthe valve 17 is drawn downwardly in its cylinder 14. In this mannercommunication between the pipes 12 and 16 is again established but'thistime in a different relation fromthat previously mentioned. In otherwords with the crank 39 set at the point 42 the lower end of the valve17 controls this communication, the compressed air passing, through thechannel or channels .20, while with the crank 39 set at the point 42 theupper end of said valve represents the effective controlling medinm. Atthe same time the actuation of the cam 54 as the rod 38 is rotated asdescribed will again open the valve 52 so that the combustion chamber 5is in free communication with the pipe 12. The operation of the valve 17with the parts in this position is such that the initial blast ofcompressed air will be admitted into the cylinder 5 at the properinstant to bring about a reversal of the direction of movement of theengine. Through the medium of the crank 45 and link 44 the link 32 will,at this stage, be also oscillated and thus by means of the link 30 causethe valve 17 to be reciprocated in the cylinder 14 in the same way asbefore. The compressed air is thus again supplied to and cut off fromthe combustion chamber 5 at the proper instant to maintain the reversedirection in the enginein the same way as described with respect to theforward movement of the engine. As soon as the latter is runningsmoothly or has reached the required momentum upon reverse, the crank 39is moved back until its pointer 40 registers with'the designation 42 onthe plate 41. This causes the rod 38 to be again actuated and operatesthe disk 62 to close the valve 59 and the cam 54 to close the valve 52and at the same time rotates the pinion 37 and segment 35 to move thearm 34 in a reverse direction until the pivot 33 is again in substantialregistr with the axial center line of the valve 1 and cylinder 14. Atthe same time the cam .54 is again actuated to release the valve 52which is accordingly again closed under the influence of the spring 52and by the action of the air which is compressed in the cylinder by thepiston 6 whereby the supply of com ressed air from the pipe 12 is againout o regardless of whether or not the connection between the pipes 12and 16 is open. At this stage the links 30 and 32 are agaln simplyoscillated concurrently without producing any With the parts in thedescribed position oil or other fuel is now again injected into thecombustion chamber 5 by the pump 56 and there again converted intoexplosivemixtures which replace the compressed air as a motive force andcontinue to operate the en ine in a reverse direction.

f after the engine has been reversed it is desired to again operate thesame ahead the crank --39 is moved from the designation 42 to'thedesignation 42 which again cuts the compressed air cohnection will againbe closed and fuel supplied to the chamber 5 the operation of the partsbeing also the same as previously described.

If the initial operation of the engine is to be in the direction hereinindicated as reverse the crank 39 is first moved to the designation 42and subsequently back to the designation 42 wherebv the desiredoperation of the engine will be eflected in the manner hereinbeforedescribed.

It is to be understood that the parts may be so arranged that theintroduction of the oil or similar fuel into the combustion cham her orchambers of the engine, commences before the compressed air has beenfinally and completely cut oil therefrom, without affecting theefliciency of my improved construction. j

If it is desired to stop the engine, either when running ahead or onreverse, the crank 39 is moved until its pointer 40 registers with thedesignation 42 on the plate 41. This operation again actuates the rod 38and disk 62 and moves ,the notch 64 thereof into'registry with theroller 61 so that the valve 59 is again opened and the supply of fuel tothe combustion chamber 5 cut off, thereby stoppin the engine. a In otherwords, the oil nds its way back 'to the pump 56 and thus does not reachthe combustion chamber 5 through the spra ing nozzle. At the same, timethe pinion 3 onthe same rod 38 has been actuated so as to move thesector 35 and arm 34 in such a manner that the pivot 33 is located at apoint between the upper and lower points at which said pivot 33registers with'the axial center line of the valve 17 and cylinder 14. Atthis stage the intermediate annular space 19 of the valve 17 is inregistry with the annular slot 15 and is thus in communication with theannular chamber 13 and pipe 12 leading to the cylinder 5, while theradial passages26 andslots 25 are in registry with the-slots 24 of thetubular rod 22. In addition the cam 54 exerts a pressure'upon theappreciable operative effect on the valve 17. rod 53 whereby the valve52 is maintained in its open position.v With the parts in this positionany pressure remaining in the cylinder whether caused by the operationof the engine on compressed air or on oil is freely released through thepipe 12, space 1 19, passage 26, slots 25 and 24 and passes out to theatmosphere through the tubular rod 22 and outlets 23.

From this it will-be obvious "that when the engine is to be againstarted, the action of the compressed air which represents the initialmotive force, will not be hindered by any resistance due to pressure inthe cylinder 5. Furthermore when passing qulckly from ahead running ofthe engine to, the astern motion thereof, the same release of pressuretakes place, so that the absence of'a retarding resistance will insure apositive and quick reversal of the engine.

The valve 1.7 may be. so constructed'that the fianges 18 thereof willuncover the aunular slot 15 and bring it into commuriica tion' wit theannular ,spaee 19 while the valve is n motion during either ahead orastern running of the engine under the ac-' tion of the compressed air.Byproperly proportioning these flanges 18 the described opening of theslot 15 takes place as the piston 6 is moving upwardly inthe cylinder 5;with this arrangement compression by the upwardly moving'piston 6 of anyair contained in the cylinder is prevented. In.

other words asv the piston rises it forces the airin the cylinder,through to the atmos-v phere in the manner hereinbefore described sothat a resistance to the upward movement of the piston is removed.Thepurpose of the described arrangement is to impart to theenginelasufli cient momentum under the action of the operatingcompressed air before'the full reactiondue to the compression with eac hindividual starting unit as to act of air b the piston in the cylindertakes place. t will be obvious'that with this arrangementlit is possiblefor a high compres sion engine to receive suflicient momentum under theaction of'low compression air; the

benefits and advantages are obvious and evident.

It willbe der engine the crank 39 may be'so connected insuccessive'steps or stages. In this way it is possible to have a. numberof cylinders fully working under air at the time another cylinderisalready in ordinary operation under oil. .As soon as it is apparentthat this particular cyli'nder'is workin properly,

t' into orthe other cylinders may be broug dinary operation in the sameway.

By providing: the valve 52 and by ii ashtive y controlling the same, theair valve 17 and its cylinderl are efiiciently protected from theeffects of the explosions in the combustion chamber 5 and at the sametime the 'fulFforce of said explosions is confined inapparent that in amulti-cylin said combustion chamber and. utilized to operate the piston.The life of'the air valve I 17 and its cylinder 14 is thus prolonged andthe efl iciency of the engine is increased to a maximum extent.

It will of course be understood that the form shown diagramatically inthe drawings has been selected merely for illustrative and descriptivepurposes and that'the same is not arbitrary and further that my improvedarrangement is equally well adapted for use in connection with engines.

of more than one cylinder. The arrangement provides most satisfactoryand efficient results with engines of more than one cylinder. Theconstruction comprises a minimum of parts, is simple and at the sametime serves to positively and efliciently control the engine. It willfurther be apparent that the air valve 17 always operates inpredetermined harmony with the piston 6 andthat the timing of said valve17 with re spect to said piston 6 is changed by changing the angularposition of the arm 34.

he preceding description of the operation of my invention has referredonly to its combination with, or application to, a single cylinderengine; Undersuchconditions it its obvious that the engine can never be"started in a given direction at will from a previous state of restunless the engine pis- (or greater number) eylinder engine, as,

shown in Fig. ,5, for example, it is always possible to immediatelystart on air, either ton and crank are in a positionsuch. that ahead orreverse, regardless of where the I pistons were when the engine stopped,since the cranks and pistons being 120 a art there will always be oneiston upon w ich the air can act and whic ated with respect to the phaseof its piston as to turn the engine in the desired direction. I

Various changes in' the specific form shown and described -may be madewithin from the spirit of my invention.

Iclainyj H I. I 1. In a controlling device for internal combustionengines operated initially means wher y the com ressed air 18controlled, means for actuat ng-said controlling means to permit air, toenter the will be so. actuthe scope of J the claims without departing bcompressed air and subsequently by inch iii) engine cylinder, and meansadjustable to different stationary positions and providing, in all ofsaid positions, a stationary means whereby the operationpf saidcontrolling means and the relation of the air impulses to the enginepiston is predetermined.

2. In a controlling device for. internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by a fue a slide valvewhereby the compressed air is controlled, means for operating said valveto permit air impulses to enter the cylinder I and for shifting saidvalve to change the relation between the air impulses and the pistonwhereby said engine may be reversed, said means being adjustable to aneutral is controlled, a link pivotally connected with said valve, asecond link pivotall connected with said first link and of Sn stantiallythe same length, an arm pivotally connected with said second link andforming a support on which said second link swings, means for actuatingsaid links whereby said valve is operated to permit air impulses toenter the cylinder and means for adjusting the position of said armwhereby the position of said second link is adjusted to shift saidvalveand itsoperation to ch nge the relation between the air impulses and thepiston whereby the engine may be reversed.

" 4. The combination of a cylinder, a piston movable therein, alcrankshaft operatively connected with said piston, a compressed airconnection leading. to said cylinder, a fuel connection leading to saidcylinder, a counter shaft operatively connected with said I crank shaft,an air cylinder in said air connection, a slide valve movable in saidcylinder for controlling the air connection, a valve controlling the oilconnection, a first link pivotally connected with said air valve, asecond link pivotally connected at one end with said first link, anoperative connection a from said links to said counter shaft, anarmpivotally connected with the other end of said second link, a segmentconnected to move with said arm, an operating rod,' a pinion carriedthereby in mesh with said segment, a device on said rod operatively.

I combined with said oil valve, an engine valve controlling theconnection between a said air cylinder and the engine cylinder, means onsaid rod for operating said engine valve, and means for operating saidrod to change theposition of said second link with respect to the firstlink whereby the position of said slide valve and its operation is adjusted to change the relation between the air impulses and the piston,the operation of said rod coincidentally operating the oil valve tocontrol the oil connection and actuating said engine valve.

5. In an internal combustion engine of the kind described an aircylinder connected with a source of compressed air, a connection fromsaid air cylinder tothe engine cylinder, a slide valve in said aircylinder for controlling the air connection, means for actuating andadjusting'said slide valve to change the relation betweenthe airimpulses and the engine piston whereby said engine may be reversed, anengine valve controlling the connection between the air cylinder andengine cylinder whereby the air cylinder is protected from the effectsof explosions in said engine cylinder, and means for actuating saidengine valve and for maintaining it in a stationary open position, saidlast named means being operatively connected with the means foractuating and adjusting the slide valve;

6. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by.

compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valve for controlling thecompressed air, valve actuating means, valve shifting means, meansconnecting said valve and said valve shifting means with said valveactuating means at a common point and mechanism for adjusting said valveshifting means to vary the'relation of said connecting means to eachother whereby the operative relation between said valve and said valveactuating means is changed.

7. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valve forcontrolling the compressed air, means for actuating said valve to ermitair impulses to enterv the engine cy inder, an engine valve controllingthe connection between said air controlling valve and the enginecylinder and means for changing the zone of operation of said .aircontrolling valve relatively to said actuating mechanism and forcoincidentally shifting said engine valve to a stationary open position.

8. In a controlling devlce for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valve forcontrolling the compressed air, valve actuating means, means connectingsaid actuating meanswith said valvewhereby the latter isoperated topermit air impulses to enter the engine cylinder and. means foradjusting said connectlng means to neutralize. its efl'ect upon saidvalve whereby the latter is rendered substantially inactive and thecompressed air connection to the engine cylinder is closed.

9. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valvecontrolling the compressed air, actuating means, a connection from saidvalve to said actuating means whereby said valve is operated to permitair impulses to enter the engine cylinder, a supporting member,

a connection from said supporting member to said actuating means wherebytheiopera-- J tive relation of the latter to said valve and of the airimpulses to the engine plston is predetermined and means for adjustingsaid supporting member to difi'erent stationa'r positions whereby saidrelation is change 10. In a controlling device for internal combustionengines operated initially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, avalve controlling the compressed air, actuating means, asupportingmember, links connected with said valve and with said supporting memberand connected at a common point with'said actuating mechanism, one ofsaid links oscillating on said member whereby the valve is operated topermit air impulses tb enter the engine cylinder, and means foradjusting said supporting member to bring the links into approximateregistry with each other whereby the valve is shifted to cut'ofl thesupply of compressed air to the engine cylinder and the action of saidoscillating link upon said valve is neutralized.

11.. In a controlling. device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valve cylinderconnectedwith theengine cylinder and with a source of compressed air, avalve slidable in said cylinder and provided with a passageextending'lengtha wise therethrough and constituting a portion of thecompressed air conduit in one position of said valve, means for continu-5o -ously actuating said valve when the engine is in operation to permitair impulses to enter said engine cylinder and means for shift ing saidvalve in-said air cylinder to change the relation between the airimpulses and the piston whereby said engine may be re versed.

12. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel,",

said vvalve when in its substantially inactive position. v

13. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operatedinitially by compressed air and subsequently by fuel, a valve cylinderconnected with the engine cylinder and with a source-of compressed air,a stationary tubular rod in said air cylinder communicating with theexterior thereof and provided with a slot, a valve slidably mounted uponsaid rod for controlling the compressed air, said valve having aradially extending passage adapted to register with said slot when thevalve is in its closed position whereby pressure in the engine cylinderis relieved, and means whereby said valve is actuated to permit airimpulses to enter the engine cylinder.

14. In a controlling device for internal combustion engines operated.initially by an air cylinder connected with a source of compressed airand provided with an annular chamber and an annular slot communicatingwith said chamber and said cylinder, a connection from said annular'chamber'to the engine cylinder, a tubular rod depending from the upperend of said aircylinder and provided with a plurality of slotsintersected by the plane of the annular slot, said rod communicatingwith the exterior ofsaid air cylinder, a valve slidably mounted on 'saidrod, means for actuating said valve relatively to said annular slot toadmit air impulses to the engine cylinder, and for shifting it to aposition in which the air connection to the engine cylinder is closed,

said valve being provided with a plurality .of radial passages adaptedin the closed.

position of the valve to register with the slots in said rod and withsaid annular slot whereb pressure in the engine cylinder is relieved:

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. CHARLES A. M Ln R.

- compressed air and subsequently by fuel,

